Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The bathroom is starting to look like a real bathroom (finally). I'm going to post a picture, but no need for shades. It doesn't look so bright in this picture; however, I'm posting a second picture from the hallway where you can really see its sassiness! And a "brag" picture of my bargain mirror that will be hung tomorrow.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Tonight, I put the semi-gloss white on the bottom part of the dining room so now that whole room has its first coat. I also went ahead & put a coat of it on the bottom half of Colton's room. Scott came by to do some of the detail work that he does best and that's about all.

Unless you count the ghost that attacked my sister with a water hose today. She had stopped by to wash her truck. A few days ago, Mom moved the mantel that's been laying outside on top of my water house. Why? Cuz that's how my family does. Anyway, I guess it made a weak spot in the hose. When Lori was washing her car, she swore someone was walking around in the yard. It does sound that way because the squirrels are knocking down acorns constantly. She said all of the sudden, the hose jumped up into the air and just busted! LMAO! She about had a heart attack. I guess our ghost, Aunt Mary, just needed a laugh today....

I ran across this on another blog and just had to share. Vanilla Ice (who I still just think has way cool music) is doing a DIY show premiering on October 14th! I'll be watching. If there's a problem, Yo - I'll solve it.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

I took today off and just loafed! The only thing I did was polish the vanity top which shined up nicely; however, it's taken on a few new scratches from being the "catch-all" in the hallway. I tried not to look in my bathroom because the color still hurts my eyes. Sigh...

My sister had decorated my back porch and banned me from peeking, so once Colton came home, we celebrated with some yummy-good cookie cake (my favorite)!

I got up early this morning to run over and paint everything first thing. Hmmm...the bathroom paint (Sassy Lilac) seemed very bright going on, but I hoped it would tone down some when it dried. I only got one wall in the hall painted before I ran out of the 'llama' colored paint. I had forgotten that when I originally bought it, I only bought enough for the living area and hall, but then decided to use it in my bedroom. Darn it!

I ran home and cleaned up and me and Tess headed to Red Lobster. Oh, what yummy goodness they serve up! My boss had called last night and asked if I could pick up the bed he was giving me at 4, so I had called Tess and we decided to swing by Red Lobster. I had told Tess that the bed was upstairs and with our combined luck, we would probably knock a hole in the wall getting it down the stairs and get fired; however, she brought her new renter, Eliseo, with her, fed him some Red Lobster and he was sweet enough to help us. When we got to the boss man's house (after circling the neighborhood several times), he had actually already moved the bed into his garage. We loaded it up and he also threw in a TV - which is great. My nephew, Dillon, has been using my TV and he said that last week, it's making a high pitched squeal, so this worked out so perfect. We shoved everything in my den and then I got to work. I finished painting the hall walls and then worked myself into a giant pity party. This is the first birthday I've spent without Colton. I know...I'm such a big baby, but it's my party and I can cry if I want to. So, I took that energy and painted until 12:30 AM. I got the first coat of the semi-gloss white paint on the bottom of the living area walls. It is looking fine, baby!

What is not looking so fine, is my purple psychedelic haze bathroom. Heck, I don't know if I really picked that color last night in my giddiness or I handed the guy the wrong paint chip or if I was just smoking crack (you choose). Either way, it's so freaking BRIGHT!!! I just hope some black and white accessories will tone it down.

This is Colton's weekend with his dad, so I dropped him off and headed to Lowe's. As much as I like being able to get alot done with him gone, I miss him so terribly when he's gone. I dropped him at his grandparents house and they always "force" a meal on me (love those folks), so by the time I got back to Cleveland, it was around 8:30. The contractor had told me that everything looked great and to go ahead and paint, so that was my plan.

My awesome friend Tobi gave me a Lowe's gift card for my birthday, so this trip was on her! :-) I was lucky enough to run into a dear friend at Lowe's and we gabbed until ten minutes before closing. We had celebrated our eighteenth birthdays together (which was only two years ago) and she is also in the process of remodeling a house. By the time we broke for oxygen, I was in a mad rush to get my bathroom paint as the store was closing in ten minutes. While the paint was mixing, I wandered down the mirror aisle where I had been lusting after this pretty sweet mirror marked $99, but I was too cheap/broke to buy. The original mirror that came out of my bathroom was this tiny little antique medicine cabinet...very small. Well, guess the freak what? The mirror was clearanced to $24.97! I lugged it into the buggy, grabbed some granite cleaner for the vanity top, grabbed my paint and went to the check-out (sh*t-eating grin in place). Of course, I also had a $10 off $50 coupon, so my total came to $52.05. I used my gift card and only paid $2.05 out of my pocket and the granite cleaner has a $2 mail-in-rebate. Then a second receipt printed for a $5 rebate on the paint, so I soooo came out ahead on this trip (for once). AWESOME!!!

I was so puffed out with pride over my awesomeness that I assured the clerk I could load my heavyazz mirror myself. I wheeled it out to the car. When I drug it off of the top of the buggy, the buggy went flying through the parking lot and there I was trying to hold onto the mirror so it wouldn't break. Fortunately, the buggy didn't hit anything and anyone that knows me knows that picking up my purse requires the strength of Hercules, so all was safe. Now fitting that huge mirror into a Honda Civic was another story. By the time I got it loaded into my car, employees were leaving and lights were going out. At one point, I thought I was either going to have to call someone to come haul it for me or strap it to the top of my car; however, I finally managed to shove it in and get all of the doors closed.

I was tired after all of that awesomeness, so I just went home and went to bed!

I primed the sheetrock tonight with some cheap white flat paint. I just slapped the paint on there since its only primer and it went pretty quickly! With Colton back in school, it's really hard to get much done in the evenings and get home to Lori's with him having homework. Boy, first grade is certainly different than it used to be!

I took the evening off, but the contractor came and sanded the sheetrock again. Everytime I walk into that part of the house, it's so strange to see walls...I had really gotten so use to the "open floor plan." Tomorrow, he wants me to prime everything so he can take another look at it and make sure it's perfectly smooth.

Monday, August 23, 2010

The contractor came back today and put another coat of mud on and sanded. I give him credit...it's looking pretty dang smooth! He was also nice enough to go in my bedroom and caulk up the baseboards, windows and trim so that you don't have to look at all of those cracks and crevices. What a sweetheart!

I stopped by the house tonight and put a second coat of paint on Colton's room...it's pretty dark! I'm posting a picture of it, but please ignore the top. I've learned (the hard way as usual) that I cannot "cut in", so Scott will be along with his steady hand to take care of that. I'm also posting a picture of my room that is close to being finished. The screw in the handing mechanism on the chandelier was stripped, so it's kinda just hanging out as you can see in the photos. Just another item on my never-ending to-do list.

I know...I'm bad for not posting! Of course, if you're really my friend, you know I'm a bad girl anyway. tehe...just kidding!

Okey-dokey, the bathroom is coming along nicely! The contractor is squeezing it in between other jobs, so its time consuming and of course the weekend slows everything down. I was pretty sick Friday night and Saturday, so I lost time; however, I worked from 8 AM to 5:30 on Sunday. Colton's room has been taped, primed and had its first coat of paint on the walls. Whew...the navy is pretty dark; however, it's what Colton wanted. Since this is the first bedroom he will remember having, I let him make that choice. I am going to paint the bottom of the walls white and add chair rail, so that will keep it from turning into a cave!

I will also share this so you can learn from my mistake (again). I was stupid enough to think that when I painted the top party of the living room area that I didn't have to tape up because the white trim paint would cover up the "llama" color since it's so light. Sigh...live and learn - it freakin does NOT! Scott (bless his heart) has painstakingly taped it back off and is Kilz'n my screw-ups. He's very detailed and I even busted him using a tiny watercolor brush to get in the tiny cracks and crevices. The hallway has been neglected since the bathroom work is going on, but I'll come back to it once the vanity is moved into the bathroom.

My uncle came over and helped me hang some light fixtures back off (since I finally painted them after almost three months). I have to admit that I've fallen in love with a color from Krylon that is like a shiny version of my "llama" Valspar paint. I painted my chandelier that color. Now I'm having serious thoughts of changing my dining area chandelier from silver to this color. I can't remember if its called Sesame Shimmer or Sienna Shimmer, but it is pretty wicked.

I'll leave you with some pictures of my best little contractor who makes the biggest messes. :-)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Sit down, take a breath...I have bathroom walls! YAY! I didn't want to post anything until I saw it actually happening, but here it is. A guy came by Saturday night and gave me a great deal to finish out most of the bathroom and he's been there on time and all day long for the last two days....what a sweetheart! He ran the vent pipe, removed the rest of the paneling on the hall wall, framed up the rest of the wall, framed up the door and hung the sheetrock. He also fixed a leak that had already sprang up along with ripping out and putting in a new hot water line. Both he and the tile guy (that referred him) took one look at the regular PVC my cousin had used for the hot water and said I would be crazy if I didn't installstrongly recommended C-PVC since the hot water would make the pipe brittle over time and bust. I don't understand why he didn't use it in the first place - I even remember my non-plumbing uneducated arse pointing it out at Lowe's and he said regular would be fine. I could half understand it if he was springing for the supplies, but he just loaded up the cart and I paid. So, why? I don't know, so I'll just leave it at that. The tile guy is coming this week to tape and mud the bathroom, so I might have a full functioning bathroom by next week. Whew...maybe.

I haven't painted anything the last couple of nights. With Colton in school, homework is kind of the priority; however, Lori and Scott have been my little painting elves. They have been sneaking over late and painting....kinda like 'The Elves and the Shoemaker' except for it's the Elves and Crazy-Lady-Who-Just-Desperately-Wants-Every-Thing-Done-So-She-Can-Move-in! Anyway, they've been great helpers.

I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of my bathroom walls. Sigh...I feel so luxurious having bathroom walls...don't be hating on me because my walls are beautiful.

PS - I also know where there is a good deal on a 'gently-used' convertible Chrysler LeBaron (tehe). It has a special option of tree removal which is not available on all models. LOL...yep, there's a story there.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

I put a second coat on the top of living room and hall today and it's looking pretty dang snazzy. I am really pleased with my "Llama" color choice. It's not khaki/tan nor is it gray - it's a nice in between taupe. The bottom half of the walls have just the Kilz on them, but you can see how they are going to look since I am painting them white semi-gloss. Check it out...of course, ignore the disaster areas in the pictures. I just keep moving stuff from one part of the house to the other to work. Also ignore my sad little unfinished bathroom. I'm also posting a picture of the den to show the Kilz'd fireplace. Even unpainted, those bricks look so much brighter and happier!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

It's been a hectic Friday! I stay so far behind on everything that I had to come home from work just to try and get some laundry done so that Colton would have clean clothes to take to his Daddy's this weekend. I planned on dropping him off and trying to put a coat of paint on his room, but as usual I got sidetracked. After I dropped him off, I realized that I was just down the street from a very dear friend in Georgia that I had not seen in way too long. I rudely stopped by way too late and got welcomed in anyway! We had a great time catching up, so yay to me!

I didn't leave there until after eleven, but I did take the time to stop by my house and peep at my bedroom. It looks fabulicious! Lori said Scott free-handed at the top of the wall and it looks great! I don't have any crown molding in the bedrooms and no way my hand would be that steady, so I am lucky he and Lori make a good team! YAY!

I took the night off since Colton has a school project due tomorrow; however, Lori and Scott were sweet enough to go paint. They finished my bedroom with the exception of the trim. I can't wait to see it!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

I went to the house this evening with only half-hearted thoughts of painting; however, the Kilz smell was still pretty overpowering. The original Kilz is oil-based and is so much stronger than the Kilz 2 Latex. I decided to leave...hopefully that smell will die down in the next day or two!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

I headed to the house after work today to start Kilz'n with the paint sprayer. Oh, my...

I started in the den and got the bricks first, slowly, as I figured out how to best use the paint sprayer. Once they were done, I was thinking I was the Paint-Spraying Goddess and started on the ceiling. About halfway though, the floor started spinning and my flip-flops were stuck to the floor from the paint. I tell ya...I felt like I had been to the dentist on laughing gas! Nothing was vented since everything is taped up, so I sat outside for a few minutes. I went back in to finish and ran out of Kilz. How in the heck did I not plan better? 'Cuz that's how I roll. I had put a shower cap on my head to protect my hair since I was spraying the ceiling, so I took it off and floateddrove over to Wal-Mart to buy some more Kilz. I got lots of strange looks, but heck, I was in my raggedy old painting clothes, so I didn't think much about it. I came back home and finished up and everything seemed to turn out pretty good. I did get very light-headed again, so I had to take a couple of breaks to sit outside and try to clear my head. When I finished, I went to the bathroom to wash my hands. Now I knew my eyelashes had been feeling kinda funny, but I was shocked when I looked in the mirror. My face was completely white - including my eyelashes, the inside rim of my eyes and even my lips! When I took the shower cap off, I looked like that scary chick that crawled around on 'The Grudge' movie....LOL! No wonder people at Wal-Mart were staring - I'm surprised they didn't call security. I started washing my face and it seemed to just be peeling off. At some point, I couldn't decide if it was really that bad or if I was hallucinating. tehe...funny, yes! I was such a mess! It took forever to clean up the sprayer properly, but I finally finished that and headed home about nine. EXHAUSTED!!!

I felt much better this morning, so Colton and I got off to an early start! I wanted to get the den taped up so I could use the paint sprayer to Kilz the bricks and ceiling. It took way longer than I thought (surprise) covering up the kitchen cabinets, furniture and just taping up odd and end things. Along the way, I discovered that the ugly copper ceiling fan in the den is actually brass, not copper. Yup, that's how much nicotine was on it (uggghhh...shudder). I also plastic'd over the bathroom wall studs so that I could get that hallway and ceiling before I have to turn the paint sprayer in Monday night. My brother was in town, so he was kind enough to stop by and shove vanity out of the hallway into the bathroom. I finished taping up about 7:30 and headed home since Monday is Colton's first day of school. I feel really guilty about spending his last free day working on the house - we are both ready to be settled in there.

This next part gets ugly, but I've toned it down as much as I can stand, so turn on your 'bleeper' for language. My contractor/cousin said he is not coming back to finish the job. You know the three to four day job he started twenty-four days ago? First, let me share how he sob-story'd me out of most of the rest of the money on Wednesday night. Yep, I fell for it (again), but he absolutely PROMISED me he would be done by Friday. I know - stupid me for doing so, but hell, he's family - which obviously means nothing to him. Secondly, the little pussy didn't even call me - the weasel sent word though his mama (who I adore and love). What a complete ass! Third, I don't know who I'm more angry with about him taking my money - him for being such a swindler or me for being such a complete dumbass and blindly handing it over. I have no use for people like him who seem to use people, ignore financial responsibilities and family obligations and by that I am not just referring to me, but his own child. I guess I hadn't been around him enough in recent years to realize how bad things had gotten with him. I cannot stand a thief and that's exactly what he did. He took money from me and precious time that I could have spent these last four weeks of summer with my child. Let me assure you that he will not be invited to Christmas dinner at my house this year. Should I see him at another family dinner, I'll be sure to fix him up a "special" plate right before I shove the turkey bone up his ass.

I got up Saturday morning not feeling so good. I'm blaming it on all the nicotine I absorbed Friday scrubbing the bricks for eleven hours. I soooo wanted to lay in the bed and go back to sleep, but I got Colton up and headed over to the house early. I cleaned on the ceiling beams the rest of the day - another royal pain.

At some point, I realized that school starts on Monday and I hadn't bought the first school supply for Colton. Boy, I am so on top of things these days! We packed up and went shopping for his stuff...cannot believe my little fella is starting First Grade!

By 5:30, I was feeling pretty dang awful (whine whine), so I went to Lori's with a splitting headache. I thought I would lay down for a little while and instructed Colton to stay inside since Lori and Dillon were leaving. After about five to six minutes, I realized he was just too quiet and went to see what he was up to. He was gone and I couldn't find him anywhere. I went into full crazy-mama-panic mode. I finally chilled out enough to call my sister to see if she had noticed where he was as she left. It turns out that he had hopped in the car with her and left. I guess in the rush, everybody just forgot to let me know, huh (big frown)?! The whole incident left me feeling worse than ever, so I did not go back over to my house to work.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Let me just say that Colton & I had a great time yesterday. The stormy weather was actually very kind to us. It would stay dry until the minute we got inside and clear up right before we came out so we had no problems staying dry.

I came by the house about 10:30 last night to find a note from the contractor saying he had been there about 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM and left. Yes, I didn't get to my house until 12:40 yesterday, but it's not like I haven't ever waited on him! I was as little peeved. I mean...come on! We do have the luxury of phone booths here in Clevegas!

He called me today about 5:00 and came over about 5:30. The tile guy stopped by and was kind enough to use his special drill bit to drill through the tile for the toilet flange - even though I think he secretly hates me because he doesn't want me to paint my brick fireplace (tehe). He manages to bring it into every conversation that we have and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna have to offer him some Kleenex after I paint it. The contractor cut a hole in one piece of sheetrock and that was pretty much it. He (now) says that he needs to fix the roof vent before he hangs the drywall so it will not get wet.

I did get to the house today about 8:50 AM and my bathroom door was already there! Let's give a big hand to Cleveland Plywood! The door actually cost less than both Lowe's and Home Depot and they offered free delivery! Not to mention, it's probably much better quality. I started scrubbing on those darn bricks. I just thought that paneling was hard to scrub, these bricks were a complete nightmare. I scrubbed on them until 8:00 tonight and they are done! I started cleaning my ceiling beams, but after about two, my wobbly arms just wouldn't lift anymore.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

If you're reading this, then I probably dragged in tonight and crashed into bed after super-dupah fun with my boy. I took Thursday off to cram in some fun with Colton and he is allowed to be 'boss for the day' (like he's not every day). Our plans are to visit the Discovery Museum and see Avatar in 3D since August 5th is the last day the IMAX is showing it.

I wanted to set up a quick automatic post to let you know I'm still around. Hopefully, the contractor makes progress on Thursday, so I will have some good stuff and maybe even pictures to post on Friday night.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Today I finally broke down and ordered a bathroom door and jam (not to be confused with jelly). The old door was a different size than what I will need now and the jam, well, let's just say that old wood came out in pieces. I had picked out a door at Lowe's a couple of weeks ago, but when I returned to buy it last week (with a truck to haul it), they only had two left. Both appeared to be water damaged. Their truck was supposed to bring more yesterday, but it didn't (who stole my door?). Last night, I bopped over to Home Depot to buy it there. Well, lawdy...they had some overhead sprinkler pipes burst which had taken out their door section. Who would have imagined I would such trouble buying a simple thing like a door? Well, I would 'cuz that's how I roll. Anyway, I ordered one today from Cleveland Plywood and they hope to have it made and delivered to me on Friday. Unless those evil door pixies jinx me again.

Backing up to yesterday...the ceiling paint I had bought appeared to have a severe yellowish tint to it. I took it back to Lowe's last night and they thought I had probably gotten a bad batch. This evening, hearing my meltdown over it yesterdayhearing of my woes, Cathy & Jim showed up with over four gallons of ceiling paint. Aren't they great?! They brought Izzy along and being the squirrel lover she is, she immediately went to exploring my squirrel inhabited yard. I've counted up to six squirrels in the yard at one time. I've also seen two flying squirrels and one off-white squirrel. Oh, and don't forget about the dead squirrel that's in one of those sheds at the back of the property.

The contractor worked for about four hours today and has promised to be done by Friday. Stop laughing...anything is possible.

I have taken the rest of the week off. First, Colton and I have some fun stuff to squash in before school starts next week and then it's scrub & paint! If anyone wants to get messy this weekend, show up! Extra hands are needed and welcomed!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

I stopped by my house at lunch today and took a sneak peek! Scott had sprayed the Kilz (original) on the living area walls. It seemed to finally cover all of the stains that had been showing through. I am really glad...was a little worried it would bleed again. By the time I got home this evening, he had finished Kilz'n the ceiling and was done. I am so thrilled and grateful with his help!

On a negative note, both he and the contractor are now saying that I can't use the sprayer to apply my paint with. Confused? So am I. They are saying that the overspray will carry over on the ceiling or other places. I am deeply disappointed and I don't know what to do. While I know it won't take long to roll the paint on in the bedrooms, that hateful pine tongue and groove takes for FREAKING ever! I thought that was the whole point in getting a paint sprayer, but evidently everyone was feeding me the wrong info. What to do? I've sulked all evening (shock) at the thought of picking up a paint brush and roller again.

The contractor didn't work at all today because of the paint spraying, but we did go to Home Depot again for a few more items. Durn, I'm tired of buying stuff.

Today was just crazy-busy at work. Not to mention our insurance company changed and there is just lots of whoop-laa about that...doctors being in or out of network. It's just such a pain in the booty. While I am very thankful for my health coverage, I have to step on the soap box for a second and say I am not happy about the cost increasing and the benefits and doctors in-network decreasing; however, health coverage is a necessary evil. Stepping down now...

The contractor worked about half a day today evening out the walls and framing up around the bathtub. It would be so nice for him to finish this centuryweek. Sigh....

I spy something! The tile guy arrived with the paint sprayer tonight...yippee! He's a sweetheart and is lusting after that hideous copper with harvest flowers ceiling fan atrocity in the den. Oh, and added bonus - my sister's boyfriend, Scott, volunteered to come over and start spraying. I'm not sure if he's a glutton for punishment if Lori is trying to get me out of her house...LOL! She has been very gracious about living with all of my clutter and junk, but I know she's ready to have her space back. The amount of stuff I have stored in her basement, well...I'll point out again that I need to be submitted for a segment on the 'Hoarders' show. Anyway, I'm sidetracking...we got a lesson on how to use the sprayer and it's ready to go! Scott will be there tomorrow morning to start and can hopefully knock a lot of it out while I'm at work. Isn't he sweet?

Not alot to report today. The contractor stopped by and put in that one piece for the kitchen sink drain and left.

I called the guy with the paint sprayer and I will have it in my hot little hands tomorrow! I spent a ridiculousreasonable amount of time on finalizing my paint colors and buying paint today. Using the paint sprayer, I hope to have the house painted in a couple of days based on what everyone is telling me.

I had a lovely afternoon at a very dear friend's house. It was my first time visiting her house and I have to rave a little on how gorgeous and tasteful for her decor is! She has put a lot of time, thought and effort into every little precious detail. I pray that my house will someday grow up to be like hers. :-)

About Me

I am a single parent on a strict budget. I just bought a home and I'm sharing my adventures in making it a happy nest for myself and my son (with the shiniest brown eyes you have ever seen). My boy is the sunshine of my life and my world revolves around him.